


DAZZ BAND LET IT WHIP MOTOWN 00095 FREE
In 1986, the Dazz Band recorded Wild & Free (1986), which featured Jerry Bell as lead vocalist, and was released by Geffen Records. In 1985, both Eric Fearman and Sennie "Skip" Martin (trumpet, vocalist) left the group and were replaced by guitarist Marlon McClain and the search began for additional vocalists that would match the Dazz Band sound. After winning the Grammy in 1982, Keith Harrison (1983) (vocalist, keyboards) was added to the group. Harris was the associate producer on all five albums, and producer of the album Hot Spot (1985) also on Motown. Īndrews produced five Dazz Band albums including: Let the Music Play (1981), Keep It Live (1982), On the One (1983), Joystick (1983), Jukebox (1984) on the Motown label. The Dazz Band continued to score R&B hits with the songs such as "Party Right Here" (1983), "On the One for Fun" (1983) " Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (also their biggest UK hit single, peaking at No. Voinovich presented Bobby Harris and the Dazz Band with the Key to the City of Cleveland with proclamations from the State of Ohio. On December 31, 1982, during the Dazz Band's New Year's Eve concert at the Front Row in Cleveland, Mayor George V. Members of the Grammy Award winning Dazz Band included: Sennie "Skip" Martin, Pierre DeMudd, Bobby Harris, Eric Fearman, Kenny Pettus, Steve Cox, Keith Harrison, Michael Wiley and Isaac Wiley. It continues in recurring radio and Sirius XM rotation. 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and achieved a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The Dazz Band's breakthrough came with the hit " Let It Whip", written and produced by Reggie Andrews, from their Keep It Live (1982) album. The group's next album, Let the Music Play (1981), featured the hit single "Knock! Knock!", which reached the top 50. The album's title track began a string of hits starting in March, 1981. The Dazz Band's first album for Motown was Invitation to Love (1980). In 1981, guitarist Eric Fearman was also added. Wayne Preston and Les Thaler were no longer with the group, and Sennie "Skip" Martin, (trumpet, vocals), Pierre DeMudd (trumpet, vocals Ap– May 10, 2017), and Kevin Kendricks (keyboards) were added. In 1980, the Kinsman Dazz changed its name to the Dazz Band, after being signed to Motown Records, which simultaneously included a re-organization of members. He went on to co-produce the second album, Dazz in 1979, when the band achieved their second charting hit, "Catchin' Up on Love". Philip Bailey made significant contributions to the group's vocal arrangements and overall sound. They released their first single, "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You" in 1978. Harris requested and got Philip Bailey, the vocalist of Earth, Wind & Fire, to produce the group's first album Kinsman Dazz. Due to illness, Gaye was unable to complete the project. In 1977, the group went to Los Angeles to record with producer Marvin Gaye.

Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records in 1977, and the group expanded from the original quintet consisting of Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers and added newcomers Ed Meyers (trombone), Wayne Preston (saxophonist), and Les Thaler (trumpet). He later became the band's manager along with Sonny Jones, owner of The Kinsman Grill, located near the street Harris grew up on, and where the band worked as a house band. The group was originally named Kinsman Dazz at the suggestion of Ray Calabrese. (drums), his brother Michael Wiley (bassist), and Michael Calhoun (songwriter/guitarist). Original Kinsman Dazz/ Dazz Band members included Bobby Harris (saxophonist, vocalist), Kenny Pettus (lead vocalist, percussions), Isaac "Ike" Wiley, Jr. Founded by Bobby Harris, the Dazz Band has performed since 1976 and continues to perform today. The Dazz Band grew out of Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1976 stemming from the jazz fusion band, Bell Telefunk.
